Nick Burchett
Guitar, Keyboards, and Vocals
[Very brief biography for Nick Burchett.]
Reality In Exile
Classic Rock • Est. 30+ Years Ago • Back On Stage
Three states. One band. Unfinished business.
Three states. One band. Unfinished business.
After three decades, the amps are humming again. Here's where you can catch us.
More dates after St. Louis? We'll see how the old bones hold up.
A little something from the archives while we dust off the rest.
Over thirty years ago, Reality In Exile packed rooms, made noise, and built a following the old-fashioned way, one sweaty show at a time. Then life did what life does, and the band scattered across three states.
We're older now. The gear is better, the backs are worse, and the songs still hit the same. This year, we're plugging back in, starting with a show in St. Louis.
Reality in Exile was is a classic rock band originally active from 1995 to 1998 in the St. Louis, Missouri, area.
The band performed songs from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s by classic rock artists. The group's original lineup was:
Nick Burchett — Guitar, Keyboards, and Vocals
Bob Welsh — Guitar and Vocals
Paul Gibson — Bass and Vocals
Greg Lawrence — Drums
The band later went through several drummers, replacing Greg with Kel Hamilton, followed by Mark McClanahan, and finally Art Balducci for one show in Lesterville, Missouri. At the time, Art was the group's final drummer.
The band was formed by Bob and Nick, who then enlisted Paul. His audition, during which he played the Beatles' “Something,” ended any thought of anyone else playing bass.
The band's name came about after Nick and Bob spent an evening having drinks at the Dogtown Grill on McCausland Avenue. They took something written on the men's room wall and used it as the band's name. Honestly, there is no hidden meaning behind it. The members mostly refer to the group simply as “RIE.”
The band initially focused on guitar-driven songs that were tried-and-true staples of the bar scene and were actually fun to play. Bob and Nick both handled lead and rhythm guitar duties, and all three front-line members sang lead vocals on various songs, with Paul singing the majority of the tunes. Nick eventually began playing keyboards as well, allowing the band to expand its repertoire and perform songs it otherwise would not have been able to play.
The band's first show was a New Year's Eve party it hosted in House Springs, Missouri. The group later performed throughout the St. Louis and Metro East areas at venues such as Schmeizing's on Hampton Avenue, back when the Arena was still standing; 66 West in Pacific; Red's Again in St. Charles; Rascals in Valley Park; and the Amazon Lounge on Christy Boulevard in South St. Louis, where the band performed multiple shows.
The band developed a fairly loyal following, consisting mostly of people who belonged to a local bulletin board system called “Affinity.” Members of the BBS often held gatherings at venues where the band was performing.
By 1998, Nick, Bob, and Paul had decided that they each wanted to do something different. The band played its final show on New Year's Eve 1998 at the Amazon Lounge.
Bob and Nick went on to form the band “Jigawatt.” Nick later left that group and joined the “South Side Johnny Band.” Eventually, Bob and Paul both briefly joined the SSJ Band. Nick, Paul, and Art later formed the group “Blufish.” Bob eventually moved away from St. Louis, followed by Nick. Paul later moved away as well.
In 2023, Nick and Paul, who were both living in eastern Kansas, reunited in two groups: “The Hoodoo Brothers” and “The Kaw Tunes,” with drummer Mickey Munoz. Bob formed his own groups in North Carolina and found considerable success.
Paul later moved back to St. Louis. The Hoodoo Brothers came to an end, and The Kaw Tunes was expected to end as well. However, people still wanted to hear the band, so another show was booked in 2024. Paul returned from St. Louis, and after a year of not playing together, the group delivered a stellar performance. The Kaw Tunes continues to perform today.
Now, with Nick in Kansas, Bob in Indiana, and Paul back in St. Louis, Reality in Exile is considering a reunion show in St. Louis. Work is currently underway on a setlist, venue, and date. Mickey Munoz will be the band's new drummer, and the group is excited to have him.
So, in reality—see what we did there?—the band is alive and taking its first steps in more than 30 years. You have already met the original lineup. Here is the current lineup:
Nick Burchett — Guitar, Keyboards, and Vocals
Bob Welsh — Guitar and Vocals
Paul Gibson — Bass and Vocals
Mickey Munoz — Drums and Vocals
We are working toward playing our first reunion show in St. Louis, Missouri, with the date still to be determined. Beyond that, the future remains to be seen. Because of the distances involved, the band will most likely focus on St. Louis, which is more or less centrally located for the members. However, the future is unwritten. Perhaps you will also see us in Kansas, Indiana, or Ohio. Stay tuned!
Guitar, Keyboards, and Vocals
[Very brief biography for Nick Burchett.]
Guitar and Vocals
[Very brief biography for Bob Welsh.]
Bass and Vocals
[Very brief biography for Paul Gibson.]
Drums and Vocals
[Very brief biography for Mickey Munoz.]
Booking, old friends, old fans, or anyone who still has memories of our shows from back in the day... we'd love to hear from you.